Kyle Hollingsworth’s Hoppy Holidays-now in its third year supporting local non-profit Conscious Alliance-keeps on giving Coloradans what they want. With over thirty breweries pouring their best suds for those peeled away from the couch and college football, jubilant times flourished under the signature Fillmore chandeliers.

This fall, the UK-based modern-day legends of funk known as The New Mastersounds have been teaming up with Turkuaz, a Brooklyn-based nine-piece funk machine that has been garnering growing praise every step of the way.

Ever since Jaden Carlson picked up guitar, the Colorado Buffaloes football team has been more limping disaster than trampling stampede. But 2016 is the Year of the Buffalo, with the squad having a chance to win the Pac12 Championship and maybe more. Meanwhile Jaden-somehow only sixteen-is headlining The Fox Theater for the second time in her youthful career.

2016 was a big year for psychedelic rock pioneer David Nelson and his longtime David Nelson Band. Nelson alongside veteran members Barry Sless (guitars, Pedal Steel Guitar), Mookie Siegel (keyboard, organ, vocals), Pete Sears (Modulus bass, vocals), and John Molo (drums) had their biggest tour in at least a decade, hitting the East Coast and Colorado for the first time in a long time.

Jazz music in always inherently evolving, while some players possess the sheer talent to spontaneously create dynamic music, less often does an artist utilize their abilities as a vessel to express emotions beyond their own familiarity. One could see pianist Hiromi Uehara and value her shear musical talent alone. More avid listeners know there’s more to it than that. Her music truly transcends emotion. The Japanese pianist began training at age six and by the time Hiromi moved to the U.S.

Keller Williams and KWahtro, consisting of Gibb Droll on Guitar, Danton Boller on Double Bass, and Rodney Holmes on drums, descended on the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA last Friday, November 4, 2016.

Back in 1990, three former YES band members, vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman rejoined forces for the successful YES ‘Union Tour’. In 2010, the three talents decided to create their own band, which they named ARW (Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman). As their 2016 tour promised, their aim was to play YES hits and more. YES was formed originally in 1968 by Anderson and the late bassist Chris Squire.

Few musicians completely transcend cultural barriers while keeping their craft authentic to their origins. One of the few percussionists to achieve this feat in the 20^th century is tabla legend Zakir Hussain. Traditionally in Indian culture, one carries on their family’s craft. Zakir is son of iconic table master Alla Rakha, who frequently collaborated with Ravi Shankar. Both masters were pivotal in exposing the music of North India to the Americas.

Jackson Browne on October 26 headlined a rousing and inspiring benefit in Sacramento, in support of California’s Yes on Prop. 62 / Repeal the Death Penalty election effort. The legendary singer/songwriter has advocated musically for positive social change initiatives since the 1970s. During the course of the entire show, Browne was as affable and funny as he was skillful, performing each tune with great dedication and reverence.

On a paradisiacal Denver day for a special concert celebration, John Denver’s former band mates and his friends gathered along with the versatile Colorado Symphony to pay tribute to the Poet Laureate of the state at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver. There was a large screen visible with John Denver often singing to an enduring older crowd often singing along.